A Democratic Socialist Blog

Universal Income: Sanders Needs to Know

If you make more than $27,520 a year at your job, you are doing better than half the country is. But you don’t have to take my word for it, you can check out the latest wage statistics from the Social Security administration right here. But of course $27,520 a year will not allow you to live “the American Dream” in this day and age. After taxes, that breaks down to a good bit less than $2,000 a month. You can’t realistically pay a mortgage, make a car payment, afford health insurance and provide food, clothing and everything else your family needs for that much money. That is one of the reasons why both parents are working in most families today. In fact, sometimes both parents are working multiple jobs in a desperate attempt to make ends meet. Over the years, the cost of living has risen steadily but our paychecks have not. This has resulted in a steady erosion of the middle class. Once upon a time, most American families could afford a nice home, a couple of cars and a nice vacation every year. When I was growing up, it seemed like almost everyone was middle class. But now “the American Dream” is out of reach for more Americans than ever, and the middle class is dying right in front of our eyes.

One of the things that was great about America in the post-World War II era was that we developed a large, thriving middle class. Until recent times, it always seemed like there were plenty of good jobs for people that were willing to be responsible and work hard. That was one of the big reasons why people wanted to come here from all over the world. They wanted to have a chance to live “the American Dream” too.

The most important issue of our time is the Living Wage and Universal Income, along with the disolve of the Military Industrial Complex, Prison Industrial Complex, Tax breaks and abatement for the wealthy, criminal tax evasion bythe corperations and the Oligarchy. Bernie Sanders needs Congressmen who will initiate this, with Republicans and Blue Dogs elected, this will be guarenteed to be shot down.

Southern NJ has one of the worse economic conditions

Look at Camden has got to be one of the most mismanaged communities in the entire country. Why is Camden spending time and money bulldozing homeless communities when it has so many other problems? For much more on the nightmare that Camden has become, please see my previous article entitled “<a title="Camden, New Jersey: One Of Hundreds Of U.S. Cities That Are Turning Into Rotting, Decaying Hellholes" Camden, New Jersey: One Of Hundreds Of U.S. Cities That Are Turning Into Rotting, Decaying Hellholes“.

Other big cities that are a little bit more “progressive” are attempting to get rid of their homeless populations by giving them one way tickets out of town.

So we have millions upon millions of dollars to waste on that, but we can’t take care of our homeless population?

And without a doubt, the need to help the homeless is greater than it ever has been before. Right now, there are <a title="1.2 million students" 1.2 million public school students in America that are homeless. That number is an all-time record, and it has grown by 72 percent since the start of the last recession.

In addition, there are 49 million Americans that are dealing with food insecurity. Even in the midst of this so-called “economic recovery, poverty is absolutely exploding.

And it is going to get a whole lot worse. This is only just the beginning.

What is going to be needed in the years ahead is a tremendous amount of love and compassion.

At the sub-regional level, Down Jersey counties consistently maintained the highest poverty rate for 2005 – 2012, had the most volatility in poverty, and saw the biggest increase in poverty under the Great Recession. In suburban Philadelphia, similar to the long—term trend, poverty remained low and relatively level, even as the Great Recession began. The Shore sub-region entered 2005 with the lowest poverty rates of any sub-region, but by 2010 had the second highest rate, as the effects of the Great Recession set in.  For 2005-2012, demographic factors had the strongest influence on poverty. Rising proportions of over-65 seniors and African-Americans had the largest effects on increasing South Jersey poverty.  Employment fell by 1.5 percent since 2005, while the population rose 4.3 percent. 44.1 percent of this growth can be attributed to growth in the foreign-born, immigrant population. An influx of immigration without a corresponding influx of jobs has contributed to higher poverty levels across South Jersey.  Since 2005, real average weekly wages have fallen in South Jersey by 1.3 percent, contributing to the increased poverty trend. This phenomenon was particularly pronounced in Atlantic and Cape May counties, where real wages fell by 4.5 percent.  Burlington County’s employment and labor market conditions have traditionally been stronger than the rest of South Jersey, and its improvements in economic performance have outpaced improvements elsewhere. Burlington County benefitted greatly from the economic changes that occurred in South Jersey since 1970. As a result, Burlington 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 Atlantic County Burlington County Camden County Cape May County Cumberland County Gloucester County Ocean County Salem County South Jersey 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Poverty Dynamics in South Jersey: It has the highest poverty rate in the USA.